Dorothy Hosmer: An American Cyclist’s Journey Through Romania
"An American Girl Cycles Across Romania", a fascinating glimpse into a country on the brink of transformation
Mihaela Ignătescu, 11.02.2025, 10:56
In an era when few women traveled alone, let alone on a bicycle across unfamiliar lands, Dorothy Hosmer defied expectations. An adventurous American, she set out on an extraordinary cycling journey across Southern and Eastern Europe in the 1930s, documenting her experiences along the way. Romania was one of the countries she traversed, a land of rugged mountains, remote villages, and a fascinating blend of medieval tradition and modern ambition. Her reflections on this leg of the journey were captured in her article An American Girl Cycles Across Romania, published in November 1938. Through her eyes, we get a fascinating glimpse into a country on the brink of transformation, viewed through the eyes of a daring cyclist who sought not only the thrill of the road but also a deep engagement with the people and cultures she encountered.
